We’ve got a wealth of experience and expertise on our Board, all of whom are incredibly passionate about the work Dogs for Good does to make life possible. We’re delighted to introduce you to them!
Co-Chair of Trustees – Helen Timbrell
Helen Timbrell, an experienced Trustee, was looking for a national charity near her home in Moreton-in-Marsh so she could feel more connected and be able to attend meetings and events more easily. After seeing the Trustee role advertised and that Dogs for Good was looking for a focus on volunteer development, she felt her skills were a perfect fit.
With a background as a People Director in charities like the National Trust, Samaritans, and Girlguiding UK, Helen brings extensive volunteer management expertise. She now works as a consultant, researcher, and coach, supporting charities nationwide, and is an Associate at the Centre for Charity Effectiveness at Bayes Business School.
Volunteering is Helen’s passion. She completed a PhD on the subject and currently volunteers with three organizations, including the National Trust’s Upton House. Though she doesn’t have a dog due to work commitments, she and her husband often care for friends’ dogs, particularly cocker spaniels.
Co-Chair of Trustees – Ruth Goddard
Ruth Goddard recently joined Dogs for Good as a Trustee, drawn to the charity after meeting its volunteers at the Cornbury Festival and living locally in the Banbury area. When she saw the Trustee role advertised, she knew it was the perfect fit.
With a 20-year background in finance as a CFO and Financial Director for growing, entrepreneurial organisations, Ruth brings valuable financial expertise and governance knowledge to Dogs for Good. She is excited by the opportunity to help improve the lives of many people through the charity’s work, fostering meaningful connections between people and dogs.
A lifelong dog lover, Ruth recently adopted a five-year-old rescue Cavapoo named Lulu after losing her previous dog last year. Outside of her professional life, she enjoys staying fit, practicing yoga, and is currently perfecting her headstand. Ruth is eager to contribute to the charity’s growth and expand its reach to more people.
Annabelle Charman
Annabelle has served as a Trustee for six years, initially drawn to the charity through her company’s sponsorship of a puppy. After hearing a volunteer’s inspiring talk, Annabelle was keen to support in whatever way she could. The charity was looking for new trustees and with a warm welcome from the team, she quickly felt part of the Dogs for Good family.
With a corporate background, Annabelle brings transferable skills in operations, governance, leadership, and strategic planning to support the charity’s Executive Team. She has been inspired by the charity’s ambition to grow and flourish, despite some challenging times like seeing how it adapted and continue to support people during the pandemic and how Dogs for Good continues to innovate through supporting people through Animal-Assisted Activities and Treatments.
Annabelle finds great reward in seeing the positive impact the charity has on many lives. Although she doesn’t currently have a dog, she loves being outdoors and walking and says the only thing that would make being outdoors more pleasurable is to have her own dog by her side one day. An avid ultra runner, she recently completed a 106km Isle of Wight Challenge to raise funds for the charity and looks forward to one day sharing her outdoor adventures with a dog by her side.
Trish Thompson
Trish Thompson has been a Trustee for Dogs for Good for 10 years, first connecting with the charity as a beneficiary when she applied for an assistance dog in 2000. Over the years, she has been partnered with several dogs, including her current companion, Mabel, a yellow Labrador with a love for getting muddy.
She brings her personal experience and expertise into her role as a Trustee, where she values a diverse team and feels privileged to see the charity’s life-changing impact on others.
After a spinal injury at 20, Trish dedicated her career to helping those with spinal injuries. She worked with the Back Up Trust as a group leader, mentor, trustee, and service developer, and spent over a decade helping young people at Whizz Kidz gain confidence and life skills. Trish also holds various safeguarding roles and serves on Dogs for Good’s safeguarding board.
Claire Moreton
Claire Moreton has always had dogs in her life, including her current dog, Kiera, a Labrador-Golden Retriever mix from Dogs for Good. Kiera is her son’s autism assistance dog and has made a profound impact on their family. This inspired Claire to apply for a Trustee role at Dogs for Good, as she wanted to help others receive the same transformative gift.
As a mother of three, including twins—one with a physical disability and one with autism—Claire brings valuable insight into the challenges faced by families of children with disabilities. She believes her lived experience, alongside Kiera’s role, provides a unique perspective to the charity.
Claire is excited about Dogs for Good’s expanding services, many of which she wasn’t aware of when they got Kiera three years ago. She is particularly fascinated by the potential of assistance dogs in fields like dementia and social care, calling their impact “mindblowing.” The bond these specially trained dogs create with individuals is what excites her most about serving on the Trustee board.
Lynda Whittaker
Lynda Whittaker has been involved with the Riding for the Disabled Association since 1996 and understands the therapeutic impact animals can have. She is excited to bring this experience to Dogs for Good, helping to enhance lives through the support of dogs.
As a business advisor in the social enterprise and charity sector in Scotland, Lynda brings expertise in governance, business planning, and safeguarding to the charity. She is inspired by Dogs for Good’s inclusive approach and is passionate about the powerful bond between people and dogs.
At home in Scotland, Lynda shares her life with Taz, a mischievous Jack Russell terrier who brings daily laughter. When not with dogs or horses, she enjoys working on crochet projects and relaxing with a good film.
Jane Fossey
Jane Fossey joined Dogs for Good as a Trustee after 20 years of supporting the organisation. She has provided training on mental health and bereavement support and served on the research reference group for the Family Dog programme, AAI initiatives, and the Dementia Dog programme. Jane’s background as a leader in NHS Psychological Therapy Services brings valuable expertise in understanding people’s needs and fostering collaborative relationships with other agencies.
Jane has also held senior research positions, focusing on quality of care for people with dementia and factors impacting service delivery. She previously served as a Trustee for the Society of Companion Animal Studies, where she contributed to developing standards and training in animal-assisted interventions.
Having grown up with dogs, Jane has lived with a border terrier, border collies and a spaniel, some of whom accompanied her in therapy work. She also co-founded a community dog training club, helping others enjoy the joy that dogs bring into everyday life.
Alice Tucker
Alice Tucker has been a Dogs for Good Trustee since 2021 and was attracted to the role for numerous reasons. As a Veterinary Surgeon by profession, Alice sees the daily impact of the relationship that dogs can have with people – helping people to unlock and build connections to feel more included and empowered. To be part of a charity that also recognises the importance of this, whilst also ensuring high animal welfare values was hugely attractive.
Alice is excited about the huge amount of change the charity has undergone in the last couple of years and the direction it is taking – ‘there is a clear and ambitious strategy to increase the number of people that we support which has created a palpable buzz within the charity’.
Dogs play a huge part of her life, both professionally and at home where she has three (golden retrievers and a Labrador) to keep her busy alongside three young children. In the very little spare time she has, she is a self-confessed ‘closet thrill seeker’, enjoying anything that elevates her heart rate including previously having been shark cage diving and planning a wing walk next year.